In a world with a bazillion different brands that come in a trillion different colors, sometimes it’s hard for a girl to make a choice. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve stood in the aisles in Walgreen’s, staring at the display with my mind reeling. Also, being a high school student means that my budget is super tight, but after a lot of trial and error over the years with my experiments, I have narrowed down the best and worst polish brands for your nails and your wallet.

BEST:

Avon Nailwear Nail Enamel ($3.49) – Hidden secret. This normally expensive or higher-end brand has developed a polish that is incredibly long-lasting (up to 10 days for me). They have really cute and wearable colors but for the price, you can’t beat it.

Rimmel London 60 Seconds Vinyl Stars ($3.30) – This time, the hype is worth it.  This formula is practically smudge-proof because it really is fast drying. It applies evenly and comes in 16 fun, yet professional shades.  The only bad thing about this though is that the colors aren’t really shiny, they have a more matte and boring look.  I personally think that by adding the shiny ingredients, it increases the length of time it needs to dry. This is your personal preference: fast drying or shiny. Take your pick. If shine and a glossy appeal is an important characteristic for you, simply add a top coat.

Essie ($8.00) – Essie is the veteran in the arena of nail polish. They have a good reputation and it is well deserved. I originally thought that Essie was the brand for moms because they have a large range of simple neutral colors, but the more I looked for them, the more I found the really simple but gorgeous, fun colors. It’s more then just pale pinks. Essie is pretty long lasting, but you need to add a few coats because the polish is very light.  They aren’t the most cost-effective, so I suggest looking into them and find a color that you really, really love. They are worth the splurge.

OPI ($8.50) – This is my all-time favorite brand.  OPI is a sturdy nail polish brand that holds up for long periods of time, is easy to apply and they have phenomenal colors. Even the color names are the best like “Red my Fortune Cookie”, “And This Little Piggy…” or “A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find.” I find them extraordinarily amusing. The only problem: the cost. They aren’t the least expensive, but if you find the one color that is more of an every day wear for you, one that you will get a lot of use out of, and you won’t feel so guilty.

WORST:

Wet N’ Wild Wild Shine ( $ 0.99) – It is tempting. It is all too tempting to buy a nail polish that’s a dollar.  In your head, you justify the product for the price, but sometimes when something is cheap, it is just cheap. This nail polish may be cost-effective but I found it super sticky, hard to apply & dry and it chips incredibly fast, even with a top coat.  It is the farthest thing from long lasting.

Maybelline Express Finish ( $ 3.99) – Don’t get caught up in the propaganda ladies. I was fooled by the fancy Hollywood advertising of the nail polish that gives “great shine” in 50 seconds. I was bamboozled into buying a product because of the display and I admit it. From the second you unscrew the cap, you notice that the polish is super runny and it makes it impossible to apply the polish neatly. It is a sloppy mess and the coloring is so light, it takes multiple coats to even get a decent coat so it takes much longer than a minute to dry. Maybelline should really just stick to make-up.

OPI Shatter ($9.99) – I am personally not an shatter nail polish kind of gal and this just ruined the whole institution for me. While their original varnishes are amazing (look below!), the shatter was cakey, washed out and didn’t really shatter. I had to pick at my polish to make it do it’s job. Too expensive to be worth it.

 Disclaimer: Prices may vary at locations.